Stop Romanticizing Mental Disorders by Christina Barron

Stop romanticizing mental illness. Specifically depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and self-harm. There is absolutely nothing beautiful or romantic about these things. Yet, today’s society of teenagers seems to think so. Mental disorders are regularly being glamorized by pop culture through movies, social media sites, music, and some books. This is wrong, and it is imperative that it stops.

Why do teens encourage each other that  allowing harm to their bodies and their mental health is considered to be the almost popular thing to do? Though it is glamorized, like most things pop culture pushes, it is far from romantic. America is experiencing a national mental health crisis, and its teenagers, its next generation of leaders and impactful citizens, are the last people who need to be using mental illness as an artistic gateway to popularity. 

However, the sad truth is, American's are under-educated on how to properly respond to teens experiencing mental illness. It is not the way to being the popular kid like social media would have you believe, nor should it be. But, if a teen does indeed have a mental disorder and they don’t skillfully cover it up with a pretty mask, he or she will be shunned. They don’t become the beautiful, popular friend with a quirky trait. They become the kid most people are afraid of and don’t know how to talk to. This isn’t pretty, it is horrible. Mental illness changes lives. It doesn’t turn life in to a super romantic teen love story. Life isn’t a John Green book. People need to see that!

Bulimia isn’t a pretty long haired girl bending over a toilet with a tragically beautiful face on. It’s a miserable face with vomit dripping from its chin and a bleeding throat.

Anorexia isn’t a slim figure shyly refusing a cupcake at a party. Its peach hair growing all over their freezing malnourished body who could drop dead of heart failure at any moment.

Depression isn’t a model with running mascara staring off into the sunset. It’s a boy staring at the ceiling at 4 o’clock in the morning with burning eyes because he can’t find the motivation to close them. 

Self-harm isn’t handsome boys kissing a shy girls scars and telling her she’s still the most beautiful girl in the world. Its scars that will be there for a very long time and showers that sting.

A panic attack isn't a gorgeous girlfriend burying her face into her lover’s chest and him telling her everything will be OK. Its feeling out of control and like all oxygen has been denied from your lungs.

Mental illnesses are real, and they are far from pretty. Please stop taking them lightly. Stop romanticizing teens being sad and harming themselves. Stop treating depression as a lovely cue for a perfect love story, there is nothing romantic about hopelessness and suffering.  Flowers won’t grow out of the scars on their wrists. A kiss won’t heal their mind. When someone is made to feel like death is their only escape, a cute celebrity isn’t going to come sweep them off their feet and save them. Mental illnesses don’t suddenly make people special or make people start to care about someone. They are monsters that destroy lives. Please stop promoting them as something wonderful to impressionable teenagers.

Left vs. Right By Christina Barron

Have you ever heard someone you know talk about how they believe they use one side of their brain more than the other? Chances are, most of us have. But if you haven’t, or if you don’t quite understand this concept, let me enlighten you.

First of all, the 'left brain vs. right brain' theory is just that. A theory. It has yet to be 100% proven, but it is a relatively simple theory based on stereotyping that most people accept because of general observations. The theory developed from the epilepsy research of Roger W. Sperry, receiver of the 1981 Nobel Prize.

 Basically the theory hypothesizes that one side of their brain holds dominance over the other and this affects the person’s personality and his or her strengths of intelligence. The side of dominance is different from person to person.  The theory is based on an aspect of psychology referred to as lateralization of brain function.

People will say things like “I’m left brained” or “I’m right brained”. If a person believes they are left brained, this is probably because they identify their thought patterns as logical, analytical, and critical. While the person who believes they are right brained they identify with being more thoughtful, subjective, and intuitive. In academics, this usually means that the left brained person is better at math than they are with English because they like to be organized and rational, while the right brained person enjoys English because of its potential to be abstract and promote deep thought and feelings.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE A TEST AND SEE WHAT SIDE OF YOUR BRAIN IS DOMINANT!

Even though you may have dominance towards one side, remember that the two cerebral hemispheres do work together. The left side of the brain is responsible for words, numbers, analysis, lists and controls the right side of the body. The right side of the brain is responsible for color, rhythm, spatial awareness & depth perception, daydreaming and controls the left side of the body.

While the 'right brain vs left brain' theory makes sense and is a very interesting consideration of how our Creator made our brains to work, it is important to remember that scientific theories do no define us.  Below is a set of pretty poetry that sums the importance of them both working together to make life beautiful while casting out the typical stereotypes of the two sides. 

(Quote collected via tumblr, original source wasn't noted) 

Scientific Incentives to Give Better HUGS by Christina Barron

First... let me welcome you back to The Quirk! SAC Day's Journalism Class is really looking forward to this semesters' blog project! I hope you all enjoy our posts!

 Anyways, on to my article! 

 I don't know about you, but I personally love hugs. Interestingly enough, this morning, as I was scrolling through my Facebook feed, I came across this intriguing link that a friend of mine had shared. Naturally, since I am a hug enthusiast, I just had to click on it, and that click lead me to do some further research. So, here are some scientific incentives to give better hugs, more often!

 First of all, to understand all this business about what a good hug is and how to give one, let me briefly explain some of the science behind the bountiful benefits of hugging.

During a hug, a bonding hormone called Oxytocin is secreted into your bloodstream by your pituitary gland. This hormone serves to calm your nervous system, thus lowering your blood pressure and your cortisol (stress hormone) levels. Studies show that Oxytocin has the power to heal feelings of anger, loneliness, and depression. Another hormone, Serotonin, released during longer hugs, works to lift one's mood, resulting in a feeling of relaxed happiness.

These hormones work in harmony to increase your level of friendship by giving you a sense of belonging, thus boosting both you and your hugging partner’s self-esteem. Some studies even claim that hugs hold healing powers towards the immune system (somehow, hugs activate the thymus gland which balances the bodies white blood cell count) and can help relieve physical pain.

 So by now you’re probably wondering, “What kind of hug brings about these benefits?”?  It’s pretty simple really. Basically, “homeschool hugs” don’t usually make the cut. According to psychological research, a “good hug” lasts at least 15-20 seconds, and uses both of your arms. To make it an even better hug, give a gentle squeeze before you let go.  Bear hugs are the cool hugs I’m talking about!

Who should you hug, and how often? Although normally reserved for greetings and goodbyes just for close friends, good hugs should be given to everyone! You never know what someone could be going through inside – choose to be a bright spot in someone’s day by warming their heart with a hug! To be honest, I would hug everyone I know if I could, but I understand that not everyone likes being hugged. Some people aren't all that comfortable with physical touch because it just isn't one of their love languages  . I respect that, as should you! But for the rest of us who do enjoy and actually needs hugs, give them the good hug that they need as often as they need it! Psychologists recommend giving at least 8 hugs a day in order to reap all of the benefits. That’s not always possible, but it is definitely a great goal to shoot for!

So whether you personally enjoy them or not, hugs are awesome! They are such an easy gesture and they make you and your hugging partner feel happy, relaxed, safe, and loved all while supporting each others health. 

This is February. February is the month centered on the dreaded Singles Awareness Day beloved Valentine’s Day – a holiday devoted to love. So I present a challenge: during this month, every time you say "hi" to someone, go the extra mile and share the love by giving them a great hug!!! Here's my virtual hug to you: 

Come redeem your imaginary ticket for a real one next time you see me!

Bella Swan is Mentally Insane

I am part of the unfortunate many that have read all of the Twilight books. Every single one of them is a horrid example of literature at its very worst. I cannot think of something more disgustingly written, nor dare I try. Even though I am repulsed by the fact that I absorbed every last word of the treacherous series, I do not regret it. I am one of the lucky few whose hatred of the series is legitimately justified. No one can accuse me of judging a book by it’s cover, and that’s the way I like it.

Although many things about the book disturbed me, there was one thing in particular that struck me as frightening. Yes, Bella Swan is the anti-feminist. Her desire to be adored is pathetic, and the comatose state she was left in, upon her breakup with Edward, was completely appalling. However, that’s not what concerns me most about Bella.

Bella Swan seems to be mentally insane. Don’t believe me? Here are some quotes from the 6 books that I believe, prove my point quote nicely. (Get it? It’s a... pun... quite nicely... no? Okay.)

“I tried to be diplomatic. But mostly, I just lied a lot.”

“I don’t like to lie. So there better be a good reason why I’m doing it.”

Alright, this one is simple. She’s a pathological liar. He desire to be truthful and friendly is matched only by her lack of ability to do so. This is entirely unhealthy, on its own. Let alone, coupled with all the other things I’m about to show you.

“I couldn’t allow him to that this level of influence over me. It was pathetic. More than pathetic, it was unhealthy.”

We all know Bella has Histrionic Personality Disorder. Her inability to cope without her dear Edward is frightening. But here she is acknowledging how unhealthy it is! This borders on the sociopathic, my friends.

“Non-reality was black, and it didn’t hurt so much. Reality was red, and it felt like I was being sawed in half, hit by a bus, punched by a prize fighter, trampled by bulls, and submerged in acid, all at the same time. Reality was feeling my body twist and flip when I couldn’t possibly move because of the pain. Reality was knowing there was something so much more important than all this torture, and not being able to remember what it was.”

.... I don’t even know what to say about this one... She’s definitely loony.

“I do a good job of blocking painful, unnecessary things from my memory.”

It is a widely accepted fact across the psychological community that painful things ARE necessary. The repression of hurtful memories leads to unspeakably horrific side effects, including schizophrenia (which might explain the previous quote), bipolar tendencies, and thoughts of suicide. This is not a helpful attitude. It’s not a healthy attitude.

And now, the cream of the crop:

(Bella, upon hearing for the first time that Vampires kill and eat people...)

“(That doesn’t repulse me) It sounds reasonable.)”

“I should be afraid – I knew I could be, but I couldn’t feel the right kind of fear.”

This is so beyond insane and unwise. In fact, this might actually be proof that Bella is a sociopath. Her lack of emotion has come to a point where she isn’t perturbed by or scared of the fact that her friends eat human beings.

I have nothing else to say. Is further proof really necessary?